A catering company that specializes in charcuterie boards and sandwiches will no longer operate a stall at Syracuse’s Salt City Market.
She Fancy Grazing Co. joined the popular downtown food hall in December 2023. It closes this weekend after seven months. She Fancy is owned by Anna Sofer, a chef who previously owned restaurants in Utica and Clinton, N.Y.
“It just wasn’t a great fit for us and our concept, and where we see ourselves growing,” said Sofer. “We did love working in close proximity with other business owners, which was a treat coming from brick-and-mortar life. I still do fully believe in the market.”
Located directly behind Cake Bar, the She Fancy stall is one of two standalone food counters in the Salt City Market. It doesn’t have a full kitchen like other market spaces, but it can accommodate refrigerated items.
“I was really ambitious thinking the charcuterie itself would drive the concept,” Sofer said. “Turns out you’re not going to make a bunch of money selling single-use charcuterie boards. It was definitely a good learning experience.”
While operating at Salt City Market, Sofer also ran She Fancy as a full-time catering business, crafting charcuterie boards for weddings, graduations and parties. That arm of her business will continue.
“Catering is stronger than ever,” Sofer said. “I couldn’t commit myself to the market hours simply due to catering. I got into owning a business to make my own rules...My autonomy and flexibility are important.”
Sofer recently moved to Syracuse’s Eastwood neighborhood and will keep hosting She Fancy pop-up events at bars and restaurants this summer. She plans to launch an Italian fusion dining series with Joe Chisari of Mojo’s Miscellaneous, a vegan delivery and pop-up food service.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Sofer said. “Onward and upward.”
The original Farm Girl Juicery stand in the Salt City Market offered cold-pressed juices and smoothies. Owner Abigail Henson closed the stall in November 2023 to focus on her new baby. She Fancy Grazing took over the stand in December 2023 and will close on June 30, 2024. (Don Cazentre | dcazentre@syracuse.com)
CJ Butler, Salt City Market’s communications manager, said changes in the market are always expected, though She Fancy’s early closure was “unfortunate.”
“It’s really sad; we were really starting to see them grow wings and branch out,” said Butler. “The situation is not ideal for anyone, but we’re rolling with the punches and supporting her as much as we can. We still want She Fancy to be successful.”
Butler said the market will involve the public in choosing a new local food vendor to take over the empty space.
“We put She Fancy in because folks wanted more sandwiches in the market,” said Butler. “Now, has that desire changed? I think we have to do some research and get more feedback from our customers about what they want to see next.”
The She Fancy stall was previously occupied by Farm Girl Juicery, which offered cold-pressed juices and smoothies. Owner Abigail Henson closed the stall in 2023 to focus on her new baby.
The new mural facing Salt City Market is titled "Everything But The Kitchen." It was designed and painted by Audra Linsner. (Katrina Tulloch)
The Salt City Market food hall opened at 484 S. Salina St., across from the Marriott Syracuse Downtown hotel. The market is operated by the nonprofit Allyn Family Foundation’s Syracuse Urban Partnership.
New market vendors added this year are SinBun, a growing business that makes sweet and savory filled buns, and ElleRae’s Tacos, which specializes in “Cali-Mex” cuisine like tacos, quesadillas and street corn.
SinBun took over the soul food stand Miss Prissy’s, which will open its own standalone restaurant on Warren Street downtown. ElleRae’s Taco’s took over a spot run by the Asian food stand Big in Burma, after the owners retired.
The Salt City Market is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Don Cazentre contributed to this report.
Katrina Tulloch is the editor of This is CNY. She also writes stories for Syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Contact Katrina: Email | Instagram | Facebook
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